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anvil repair

Hey guys I got an old anvil that has some chips in the edges and the centre of the face is lower than the sides. Just wondering I it would be better to get it machined flat again or to build it up with some hard facing rods or maybe machine and then hard face. Opinions? Experiences? Thanks. Also how do I tell if it's cast steel as opposed to cast iron? Thanks

Use a good build-up rod that will work harden. Hard surfacing electrodes should never be used for build-up. With multiple layers of hard surface on the anvil there is a very good possibility of pieces flying off the anvil under heavy use. Use a grinder on it to determine if it is cast iron or steel. Lots of sparks its steel; very few sparks its cast iron.

As an amateur blacksmith, I would be REAL careful about welding or grinding on a new anvil, even if it is old and chipped and swaybacked, and especially if you are a noobie at blacksmithing, because:

1. Welding on an anvil properly is something of an art to do it right without a) damaging the tool-steel (high-carbon) face or b) ending up with a disaster because you didn't pre- and post-heat properly. It takes a while to heat a 200# hunk of iron and steel to 400* or 500* evenly! And welding on high-carbon steel is no picnic when it comes to anvils. It's best left to the experts, unless you have lots of anvils to throw away when you trash them.

2. Even if you spend $$$ getting it welded up right and blanchard ground flat, as a noob, you are still likely to chip and damage it again.

Lots of good blacksmiths make lots of good stuff with anvils that, to a noob, look like they're unusable. Much of the art of blacksmithing is learning how to "work around" things, and imperfect anvils, and hammers, and pieces of material are just some of the things you need to learn to "work around." And as one previous poster said, some "imperfections," such as a swayed back, turn into "assets" once you learn to not only "work around" them but work WITH them.

anvil repair

Thanks for the replays guys I actually only had a chance to look at it for the day I picked it up as I had to fly out to work. But after researching I'm not sure the edges aren't deliberate as for a swage block idea. And I guess for now it will remain in it's old beat up glory. Another question the only markings I found said 116. I researched a bit and found out that was a weighing system. But is there any way to find out who made the old girl? Thanks again guys

As an amateur blacksmith, I would be REAL careful about welding or grinding on a new anvil, even if it is old and chipped and swaybacked, and especially if you are a noobie at blacksmithing, because:

1. Welding on an anvil properly is something of an art to do it right without a) damaging the tool-steel (high-carbon) face or b) ending up with a disaster because you didn't pre- and post-heat properly. It takes a while to heat a 200# hunk of iron and steel to 400* or 500* evenly! And welding on high-carbon steel is no picnic when it comes to anvils. It's best left to the experts, unless you have lots of anvils to throw away when you trash them.

2. Even if you spend $$$ getting it welded up right and blanchard ground flat, as a noob, you are still likely to chip and damage it again.

Lots of good blacksmiths make lots of good stuff with anvils that, to a noob, look like they're unusable. Much of the art of blacksmithing is learning how to "work around" things, and imperfect anvils, and hammers, and pieces of material are just some of the things you need to learn to "work around." And as one previous poster said, some "imperfections," such as a swayed back, turn into "assets" once you learn to not only "work around" them but work WITH them.

over the years I have seen a lot of great old anvils ruined or damaged by well meaning but ill concieved attempts to make them cosmetically more perfect...

Let's face it... we are talking about an ANVIL....

you beat on it to work red hot iron and steel with it...

why even worry about it... unless you are going to have a display piece for your "Man Room".... and then you would have to paint it with flat black rustoleum for a color match ..... wouldnt dare use it for fear of hurting the patina...

enjoy the character that it has developed over all these many years of honest work... the nicks, wear and scars were gained in it's daily toil..... why not use it as is and leave it unmolested??

99 out of 100 "Repair" attempts that I have seen did more harm than good...

Last edited by H80N; 07-06-2013 at 09:04 AM.

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